A PARTIALLY blind teacher was awarded the Ealing Festival Silver Baton for best choral conductor.

Marek Maryniak, 59, of Chiswick, was presented with the baton in a ceremony on June 20.

Despite suffering from a degenerative eye condition that has caused him to be partially blind, Mr Maryniak is a music teacher at three schools: St Augustine’s Priory in Hillcrest Road, Ealing, Bourne Primary School in Cedar Avenue, Ruislip and Guildhall School of Music & Drama in Silk Street, Barbican.

Mr Maryniak said: “I imagine music visually in my head. I can see enough of the children to know where they are, but I can’t see their faces, so I rely on my colleagues for help.”

He praised the dedication of the children, some as young as seven, who arrive at school before eight in the morning to practice.